Treatment of ores.



o. c. RUDOLPH. TREATMENT 0F ORES.

v vAPPLICATION FILED DEC- I6, |914. I 1 Feb. 8,1916. 1,171,255l Patent@ o. C. RUDOLPH.

TREATMENIOF ORES. y APPLICATION FILLED` 0512.16, 1914.

1,171,255., Patented Feb. 8,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, i 0 z/ 0 I Uff, 17j d" ffm vQB/ My 0. C. RUDOLPH. y

TREATMENT 0F ORES.

APPLICATION flu-:n DEc.ls.-1914.

Feb. 8,:1916. 1, 171 ,255. Y. Patented TS-SHEET 3- 5 SHEE l /fal 0. C. RUDOLPH.`

TREATMENT 0F GRES.

APPucATfoN man nec. le. |914.

1,171,255., Patented-Feb;8,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

0. C. RUDOLPH.

. TREATMENT or oREs.

APPLICATIONfILED DEC. I6. i914.

Patete ,d Feb.8,1916; 1,171,255.

MEETS-SHEET 5.v

enooacaneo narran s'rafr- Es rar-ENT @FFI-CE.,

OTTO CARL RUDOLPH? 0F ALDWYCH, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 OTTO` STALMANN, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

TREATMENT OF ORES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 16, 1914. Serial No. 877,553.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, O'r'ro CARL RUDOLPH,l

a .citizen of the United States of America, and temporarily residing at the Waldorf Hotel, Aldwych, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to the Treatment of Orcs, of which the following is a specication. f

This invention relates to a process for treating ores by volatilization and subsequent condensation ot their volatile metallic constituents.

My improved process is particularly adapted to treating complex ores which as a rule contain minerals such as copper, lead, of silver in the form of sulfids, and also gold in intimate combination, the chief object being to overcome the difficulty and prohibitive expense incidental to the treatment of suchores by known processes.

According to this invention the ores in the raw state 'are fused with or without fluxes as required to form a matte containing the bulk of the volatile constituents as well as the permanent metals of the ores, the matte being of such a character that when it is subjected to an air blast in a suitable converter, the whole of the volatile constituents such as zinc, lead and sulfur and partof'the silver are volatilized and recovered in a siutable wet condensing chamber or tower.

During the fusing of the ores, which takes place in an electric furnace a part of the zinc, lead and silver and such sulfur therein as is notrequired for the formation of the matte will volatilize vwhile the copper, iron and the like and the bulk of the zinc,.lead and silver will combine with the sulfur in theyores to form with the gold the matte at the bottom of the furnace.

-The volatilization of the whole of the zinc in the ores in the electric furnace would take considerable time and would entail the consumption 4of a large quantity of electric current and in order to overcome this defeet the furnace is merely utilized to4 fuse the charge and render the same in condition for being subsequently treated in .a converter to obtain the elimination of the volatile constituents. The fluid matte, containall the zinc and lead that has not been volatilized in the furnace may be tapped into an ordinary copper converter and then treated to volatilize the whole of the zinc and lead. The volatile constituents issuing from'the furnace and converter comprising zinc, lead, and sulfur are conducted to a wet condensing tower or chamber, or a number of such structurespresenting a large condensing surface. As thel volatile constituents pass through the said chamber they encounter a spray or .current of water which absorbs the sulfurous acid gas therein to form sulfurous and eventually, owing to the constant exposure tothe oxygen of the air, sulfuric acid. The acid thus produced serves to dissolve the zinc while the lead is precipitated as suliite or ,sulfate as the case may be.v The lead sulite or sulfate suspended in the resulting liquor may be removed inany suitable manner for example by filters or centrifugal machines and if desired may be reduced to lead in the ordinary way. ,l

The liquor after bein freed from the lead, and if required, puri ed, may be electrolyzed so as to obtain the zinc therein-in a pure metallic State while the supernatant loperations form a continuous cycle.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect I-will proceed to describe thesame more fully'with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichz F I gure 1 is a sectional plan of a condensing chamber for use with the present invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional elevations of said chamber taken respectively on the lines 2- -2 and 3 3 of Fig. 1. Figl is a I sectional end elevation taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is 'a sectional elevation of a condensing tower which is adapted to be used alone or in conjunction 4with the condensing chamber in carrying out the present invention.4 Fig. 6 is a sectional plan taken on the line `6 6 of Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 a similar view .taken on the line 3-3 of the same figure. Figs, y8 and 9 are ldetail views respectively of the wooden baiiles and brick checker-work in said tower. Fig. 10 is a detail view of a perforated anode used in the.

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electrolytic vats. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevation oi' an installation for carrying outthe present invention. Fig. 12 is a plan view thereof.

`leferring to Figs. 1 to i ot' the drawings the condensing chamber a. is ymade ot dimensions suited to the capacityv ot' the plant and is' provided with compartments a', u2, a3, at, a, o, a7 which the volatile constituents from the furnacel and converter, not shown, are made to traverse.. T he chamber may however be built without compartments. The fumes or volatile constituents from the converter or furnace enter the chamber L through the passage b (Fig. 2) and any solid matter in suspension in said fumes will be deposited in the compartment a which is provided with an opening b Fig. l, for the removal of the said solid matter. rllhe fumes pass from the'compartmenta through the assage b2 into the compartment a2 which is ll-ed with fire and acid proof brick checker- 'work c constructed in such a manner that all the channels c in each layer of bricks are covered by the superposed layer of bricks so that the fumes are made to traverse a sinuous path and remain in constant contact with the surfacesof the covering bricks. rlChe surfaces of the bricks of the checkerwork are maintained in a wet condition by lmeans ot a stream of liquor which trickles through a' roof or flooring d of perforated into the compartment a? which contains wooden baffle rods d2 arranged in superposed rows so that successive layers of rods are disposed at right angles to each other. Moreover the arrangement is such that the rods d2 in alternate'rows are staggered so that the rods in one row cover the openings in the other row. rlihe rods in all the rows may if desired run in the same direction lout in this case the staggered arrangement would be retained as it is essential tothe elicient Contact ofthe fumes Withthe Wet surfaces of the Wooden baffle rods d.

The fumes ascend through the compartment a3 and pass through theopening b5 in the partition be into the cempartinent o2 Thiscompartinent' like all' the succeeding o nes 1s filled with Wooden ba-e rods d2 in a similar manner to the compartment#l and the fumes descend through the compartment at and opening Zi? in the partition b into the compartment a5 which they ascend, they then pass over the partition t into the compartment a", through the opening t in the Liricas partition 7110 into the compartment a" which I thevleave through the opening bui. iin order to induce the How of the fumes through the compartments of the condensing chainber the opening b mat7 be connected toa 'fan which is adapted to draw the fumes thrmigh the chamber and pass-the same to a chimney or stack.

The partitions between the various com# partments in the condensing chamber are ali provided with openings such, as 3, 62h12 at their lower extremities so that the liquor in the col'npartments may leave the cham er over a water seal d* disposed at the end thereof. rilie water seal (Z4 is suiiicientiy high to prevent the fumes .escaping in an irregular manner from one compartment to another.` The liquor dowingT over the Wat/er seal Il* is raised by a suitable pump to the top of the chamber so that it may again descend through the same in the manner de scribed to absorb the zinc and other constituents of the fumes from the furnace or converter. f

The fumes or volatile constituents from the furnace and converter may it desired he carried to a condensing tower e as shown in Figs. 5 to 9 into which they enter respectively through the openings e', e". As in the case of the condensing chamber the' tower may be divided into a number oit' compartments e2, e3, e4, e, by means of suitable par titions which are provided with openings to allow of the fumes or volatiie constituents traversing a predetermined path through the compartments of the tower. T he compartment c2 is titled with brick checker-w rk f oie the character previously described whiie the remaining compartments are filled with Wooden baiiie rods j arranged in a similar mannerto the corresponding members in the aforementioned condensing chamber. It floorv or root im of closely perforated tiles is arranged at the top of the tower so as to supply. the liquor to the various compartments thereof. The liquor Hows through the pertoration's in the tiles and down over the brick checker-work and wooden battles in the respective chambers.

The fumes from the converter enter the tower, as previousiy stated, through the opening c and are prevented from rising into the compartment e3 by the reproot cover or rooi3 f2. After they` have passe i some distance into the tower they mingle with the'furnes from the furnace which enter the tower through the opening e. They then pass up through the brick checkerwork f in the compartment e2, through opening f3 in the partition ft, down through the Wooden baos f in com artment 635 through opening E in the partltion f6, up through the Woo en baffles in the compartment et through the rear opening f3 in the partition ft down through the ha es in compartment oduct containing, e greater part of such an amount the ore as is reof the matte and 7@ t any, only neglizonolnic minerals. l into a movable in its fluid state the converter nl 75 blast under presents, particularly volatilized. The the converter tofrom the furnace 80 ugh the pipes n2 plant a where the dioxid (S02) in i a solution of sull iich dissolves the 85 unies to form zinc tually, on account to the oxygen of f free'sulfuric acid more or less zinc 9o l. The lead, which i of lead sulfite and cid, is precipitated )n in the zinc sulis discharged over 95 ump Ol and is cirlensing plant until ed'amount of zinc D2. Cooling tanks that three separate 100 ,sed alternatively if uorhas been suiiiis pumped through freed from the susie lead is then re- 105 the usual manner. yfter removal of iment, is passed to the ence it is conveyed 1 where the zinc is 110 .lic state. The overses into a. Isump p2 storage tank p for r the liquor has been or the greater part 115 ion it is returned to ned Vto the top of the it it may again abes and be in condielectrolytic plant. 120 g the lead product bsorbed the desired f be separated from s apparatus immeditower or condensing 125 the liquor may be' gh the vats of the r partial treatmentto the to of the aamber. T e liquor 130 e and out of the tower through a conduit f to an exhausting fan connected to the said conduit. The liquor which descends through the various compartments of the condensing tower accumulates at the foot of the tower and flows over a water seal f8. It is then raised by means of pipes f disposed above the perforated tiles fo which are 'adapted to uniformly distribute the liquor over the 10 upper surface of the said tiles.

lVhenl local conditions render it convenient the condensing tower and chamber may be used together and in this way the period of time during which the fumes are in contact with the liquor is doubled. With this arrangement the electric furnace and the condensing tower are preferably disposed above the top of the condensing chamber so that the liquor from the tower may gravitate von to the tiles of the condensing chamber `for distribution to the various compartments thereof. The opening f5 in the partition f of the tower between the compartments e3 and e* is omitted when the tower and condensing chamber are used together andthe converter is arranged on the level of the condensing chamber. According to this method of working the fumes from the furnace enter the tower through the opening e, pass through the checker work f in the compartment et', through the wooden bafles f in the compartment e3 and leave through the opening c" at the bottom of said cornpartment e. They are conducted from the opening e" through a suitable conduit to the opening a" `formed at the top of the compartment a of the condensing chamber where they mingle with the fumes from the converter which enter said chamber a 40 through the opening b. The combined fumes'then pass through the several compartments of the condensing chamber, as previously described,`and pass by way of the opening b at the top of the last compartment al and a suitable conduit to the compartment e4 of the tower through which compartmentand the next compartment e they pass vto thevexhausting fan or chimney connected to the conduit f7. The liquor which has passed through the tower gravitates through the condensing chamber and is then raised to the top of the tower for further circulation. l

Referring to Fi s. 11 and 12 and assuming a complex su iid/ore containing lead, zinc, copper, silver, gold andiron is to be treated, the operation would be as follows:

The ore is charged by means of a car m and hopper m1 into vthe electric furnace m2 and is rendered fluid by the heat ge tween the electrodes m3 therein, and at the same time a portion of the lead, zinc, silver and sulfur is volatilized. The remainder of these substances and the other constit- 05 uents of the ore separate in the hearth of nerated be-k the furnace into a matte pr lead, zinc, copper, iron th the silver all the gold and of the sulfur contents of' quired for the formation into the slag containing, il gible quantities of thev ec The matte is then tappec ladle n and transferred from the furnace m2 to where by means of an air sure the volatile constitu zinc, lead and sulfur are metalliferous fumes from gether with those issuing are then conducted thi-o1 and n3 to the condensing liquor absorbs the sulfur the furnace fumes to form furous acid (H2303) wl zinc constituents of the f1 sulid (ZnSO3), and even of the constant exposure the air and the 'presence o formedin the same way sulfate (ZnSOQ is forme( is in the form of a mixture sulfate not soluble in the a and remains in suspensic fate liquor. The liquor` the liquid seal O into a s culated through the conc it has absorbed the desir by means of the pump 1 O3 may be provided so 1 bodies of liquor may be u required. After the liq ciently enriched in zinc it the filter press O* to be i pended lead product, tl duced ,to lead bullion in The clear zinc solution, a purities, if any are prese storage tank p from wh to the electrolytic vats j deposited in a pure metal 'low from the vatsl pas and is returned to the further treatment. Aftei deprived of the whole i of the zinc held in solut the sump O1 and is pum] condensing plant so the sorb zinc from the fum tion for treatment in the Instead of separatin,` after the liquor has a` amount of zinc, it may the liquor by a suitable ately after leaving the chamber. In this case allowed to 'low throu electrolytic refinery fo before being returned tower or condensing cl is thus treated each time it completes its circuit through the condensing plant.

The electrolytic plant is preferably provided with perforated anodes s, Fig., l0 so as toinsure the uniform circulation of the electrolyte through the depositing vets land permit a largek increase in the current density over that used in ordinary practice. Moreover this arrangement enables a uniform deposit of the zinc on the cathodes. Each anode is formed of a plateV of suitable dimensions provided with a staggered arrangement of holes or perorations s1 which are disposed on the central portions of the surfaces of the plate and pass right through the same. 'llf the residual matter in the con verter contains sucient copper it may be blown to blister copper in the converter in the usual manner. When* suitable copper ores can be obtained economically it may be advisable to mix them inthe proper proportion with the original charge of complex ore if the latter does not contain sut'- licient copper for the economical production of a suitable quantity and grade of residual matte. lf the residual matte which is freed from zincand lead does not contain suilicient copper to warrant its further treatment for blister copper, it may be used as a flux' in the furnace'.

What l claim and desire to secure byI lietn ters Patent of the United States is:-

l. A process for the treatment of ores consisting in fusing'the ore 'charge by elecn trical means without reducing the same, blowing air through the liquid charge therebyv volatilizing its volatile metallic constituents and subsequently recovering saidvolatile metallic constituents.

2. A process for the treatment of ores consisting in passing electric current through the ore charge until it is fused, transferring the liquid charge to a converter, blowingair under pressure through said liquid charge, thereby volatilizing the bulk of its volatile metallic constituents, vcondensing the volatile metallic constituents and subsequently recovering the same. l

3. A process for the treatment of complex iores consisting in fusing the ore charge by subjecting same to the action of an electric current,- transferring the liquid matte thus obtained to a converter, blowing air under pressure through said liquid matte, thereby l-volatilizing the bulk of its volatile metallic constitutents, condensing the volatile meintenses tallic constituents by vaqueous means and subsequently recovering the same.

tained to electrolytic treatment.

5. A process forthe treatment ofcomplen ores containing volatile metals such as zinc, lead and silver in combination with sulfur, consistin in fusing the ore charge and partiall vo atilizing its metallic constituents by electrical means, blowing air under pressure through the liquid charge to volatilize the remaining part of its volatile metallic constituents, dissolving the volatile zinc constituent and recipitating the volatile lead constituent given od' during the fusing and blowing operations by la liquid, removing-the precipitated lead from said liquid and iinally recovering the; metallic zinc by electrolytic treatment. K

6. A process for4 the treatment of complex ores containing volatile metals such as' zinc, lead and silver in combination with sulfur, consisting in passing electric current through the ore charge thereby fusing same and incidentally volatilizing part of itsv volatile metallic coristituents, transferring the liquid charge to al converter, blowing air under pressure through said liquid charge thereby volatilizingl the bulk oli its volatile constituents, uniformly distributing the metalliferous fumes given od during the *fusing and blowing operations over a large condensin surface, dissolving the volatile zinc constituent and precipitating the lead constituent by a liquid streaming over said condensing surface, the precipitated lead constituent remaining in suspension in said liquid, removing the precipitated lead constituent 'from said liquid and finally recovering the metallic zinc from the solution by' electrolysis.

lin testimony whereof ll aix my signan ture in presence of two witnesses.

GTT@ CARL RlllDtllLPlcl, y

Witnesses:

T. Seiler Warum, Wan-ren el. Snnn'rnn. 

